The Peter H. Peirce Store Building

Among Middleborough's most architecturally significant and historic buildings is the Middleborough police station, originally the store of Peter H. Peirce. George Decas in his definitive biography of Peirce described the store as "the most significant and lasting symbol of Peter H. Peirce and the Middleboro of his lifetime."

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Posted May. 23, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Posted May. 23, 2014 at 12:01 AM

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Among Middleborough's most architecturally significant and historic buildings is the Middleborough police station, originally the store of Peter H. Peirce. George Decas in his definitive biography of Peirce described the store as "the most significant and lasting symbol of Peter H. Peirce and the Middleboro of his lifetime."

Peter H. Peirce (1788-1861) was Middleborough's most successful merchant of the nineteenth century. A 1930s review of the Peirce store characterized Peirce as having "had few advantages, but [having] developed an unusual business ability in his early youth, and by his energy and persistent endeavor, he became the leading business man of the town. Foreseeing business life at the Four Corners, he moved from Lakeville into Middleboro and set up headquarters in the store on North Main street."

At Middleborough, Peirce entered into partnership with other family members to conduct shovel and cotton manufacturing on the Nemasket River at Wareham Street. This permitted him to establish the foundation of a reliable income and in the days prior to local banks Peirce became a large lender of money. His parsimonious ways allowed him to eventually accumulate a substantial fortune, much of which was left to the town following 1901 and now constitutes the Peirce Trust.

Overshadowing Peirce's industrial and money-lending activities, however, was the mercantile store he operated on North Main Street across the road from his stately home that stands next to the Middleborough Public Library. To house the store he operated as Peter H. Peirce and Company, Peirce constructed a now forgotten building sometime between 1808 and 1813. When Peirce outgrew this building in the early 1830s, he reportedly had it moved in sections down Jackson Street and converted into residences.

About 1834-35, Peirce constructed the large structure we know today as the police station in the then popular Greek Revival style. At the time of the store's construction, the nation had begun to look to what it believed to be its democratic antecedents in classical Greece. All things Greek were adopted with fervor during the first part of the nineteenth century and Greek architectural styles, imbued with a sense of democracy by the Americans, were widely adopted. Peirce as a solid Jacksonian democrat (Peirce named Jackson Street for the President) no doubt found the style to appeal to his taste as well as his political sensibilities.

Greek Revivalism in architecture was defined by a highly-symmetrical style both in terms of a building's elevation, as well as its interior plan. Buildings were most frequently situated so that the gable-end faced the street and such facades were more often than not treated as temple fronts as was the case with the Peirce store.

The Peirce store was notable for its tasteful and proportionate design at the time of its construction. The large central gabled section with a pediment supported by four tall Doric columns was flanked by attached carriage sheds. This central block was intended to house the store on the main floor with a large meeting hall on the second, while the carriage sheds provided cover for patrons as well as Peirce's own wagons. The original appearance of the building was documented at the time in a wash drawing presumably done by Peirce's daughter Judith now in the collections of the Middleborough Historical Association.

Outside larger urban centers it was unusual for mercantile buildings such as Peirce's to be built with such attention to design and architectural detail. The fact that the generally tight-fisted Peirce expended money on what was a commercial structure was a clear indication of Peirce's ambition and desire to attract a larger clientele from beyond the boundaries of the town. As noted by Decas, the newly-completed store "must have been quite an attraction."

The building served nearly a century as a grocery store, the layout of which was remembered in 1934.

"In the back room, there were bolts of cloth for dresses, shirts and aprons and an assortment of ribbons, buttons, thread and all sewing materials. This room also contained earthenware, farming implements and carpets, wallpapers and oilcloth.

"In the cellar was a room set apart for the sale of 'West Indies goods,' which included rum, gin, brandy and all spirituous liquors.

"The order wagons were driven about town to solicit orders and deliver goods. This type of store was conducted for about 75 years. As other stores opened in the district, the sale of merchandise other than groceries was gradually dropped."

Decas writes that "the store was the mainspring of the Peirce enterprises. It was a steady, sure source of income, enabling Peter H. Peirce to expand his interest in manufacturing, farming, real estate and the railroad. Peirce's partners and later his sons helped operate the store. This gave him precious time to devote to other enterprises."

Following Peirce's death in 1861, the business was conducted by his sons, Job, James, and Thomas. As the last surviving family member, Thomas S. Peirce bequeathed the bulk of his estate in trust to the town of Middleborough, which has benefitted ever since from his generosity.

Following Thomas' death in 1901, the store was operated by Elton L. Pratt, who retained the recognizable P. H. Peirce Co. name. In 1935, Pratt closed the store after nearly 125 years in business.

In 1936, the Peirce store was renovated for use by the Middleborough Police Department and the Plymouth County Fourth District Court as a Public Works Administration project.